June 15, 2014

MERS-CoV likely to enter Vietnam

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is likely to penetrate into Vietnam, according to a warning issued by the Ministry of Health (MoH)’s Preventive Health Department.

The Department has strengthened dissemination on preventing an epidemic of the viral respiratory illness, especially stepping up screening examinations for visitors from the infected-areas at international border gates.

In turn, the Centre for International Health Quarantine is beefing up preventative efforts at international airports, hanging MoH’s posters about preventing MERS-COV, and intensifying screening examinations for passengers from the Middle East.

The posters call on people to wash their hands regularly with soap and water, cover their mouth and nose when sneezing and avoid touching dirty hands on face, eyes, noses and mouth, as well as limiting contact with people infected with any acute respiratory disease.

Especially, anyone with symptoms of high fever, coughing and experiencing difficulty breathing should go to the nearest medical station for timely treatment.

As far as I know, Vietnam has few or no Muslims in its population, but certainly has ties with neighbouring countries that do, like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. If it's possible to pick up MERS in a three-hour stopover in Abu Dhabi, as some #MERS tweets are saying, then the whole world is effectively exposed.

Comments

The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is likely to penetrate into Vietnam, according to a warning issued by the Ministry of Health (MoH)’s Preventive Health Department.

The Department has strengthened dissemination on preventing an epidemic of the viral respiratory illness, especially stepping up screening examinations for visitors from the infected-areas at international border gates.

In turn, the Centre for International Health Quarantine is beefing up preventative efforts at international airports, hanging MoH’s posters about preventing MERS-COV, and intensifying screening examinations for passengers from the Middle East.

The posters call on people to wash their hands regularly with soap and water, cover their mouth and nose when sneezing and avoid touching dirty hands on face, eyes, noses and mouth, as well as limiting contact with people infected with any acute respiratory disease.

Especially, anyone with symptoms of high fever, coughing and experiencing difficulty breathing should go to the nearest medical station for timely treatment.

As far as I know, Vietnam has few or no Muslims in its population, but certainly has ties with neighbouring countries that do, like Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand. If it's possible to pick up MERS in a three-hour stopover in Abu Dhabi, as some #MERS tweets are saying, then the whole world is effectively exposed.